Vending machine



Aug. 17, 1937. v. H. KELLEY I VENDING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR VICTOR H. KELLEY ATTORNEYS Aug. 17, 1937. v. H. KELLEY 2,090,368

I VENDING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet? FIG. 2.

INVENTOR VICTOR H. KELLEY ATTORNEYS Aug. 17, 1937.

V. H. KELLEY VENDING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 6, 1936 VICTOR H. KELLEY ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention appertains to devices for dispensing merchandise, and more particularly to a coin-controlled vending machine.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a vending machine in which articles: of different prices can be dispensed upon the depositing of coins of the necessary value.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a vending machine which will dispense one: article upon the deposit of a required coin, and another priced article upon the depositing of two coins totaling the price of the second article.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a coin-controlled vending machine which is adapted to dispense any type of packaged goods, such as cigarettes, candy, etc, but which is particularly adapted for dispensing decks of playing cards of different prices, the machine being also capable of dispensing score pads from one chute upon the depositing of a coin (say, a dime) and a deck of cards from another chute upon the depositing of two coins (say, a dime and a quarter).

A further object of my invention is to provide novel means for releasing operating plungers for upon the operation of one plunger alone.

A still further object of my invention is: to provide an improved coin-controlled vending machine of the above character, which will be durable and eflicient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will be 'hereinafter more specifically described, claimed,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the improved machine, taken substantially on the line ll of Figure 2, the brackets for the article chutes or hoppers being shown removed.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary end elevation of the improved machine, the casing for the machine being shown removed, a

Figure 3 is an enlarged, detail horizontal section taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure- 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the construction of the operating shaft.

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentaryvertical:

sponding parts. throughout the several views, the

letter M generally indicates my improved coincontrolled vending machine, and the same embodies longitudinally alined base brackets 5,

which can be firmly united to a longitudinally extending base plate 6, on which the various? parts of the operating mechanism can bedis.'

posed. The base and the operating parts of the mechanism can all be housed within a suitable casing or housing (not shown), which can beof any desired or preferred ornamental character.

Disposed above the base plate 6 is the operating shaft 1, which includes a pair of longitudinally alined independent sections 8 and 9. These shaft sections 8 and 9 are supported for free r0.- tation in suitable bearing blocks l0 rigidly connected to the base plate 6.

Rigidly joined to an angle bracket ll carried by the base plate is an upstanding supporting plate I2 through which the shaft 1 extends. This plate l2 supports, by means of brace plates l3, chutes l4 and I5 for the coins, as; willbe described later.

It is to be noted that the coin chutes l4 and I5 terminate above a coin box'lfi,'

and thus the coins are adapted to drop from their chutes into the box, where the same can be removed at the convenience of the owner of the machine. chutes can be formed in any preferred manner to facilitate the insertion of coins therein.

On one side of the plate I2 are arranged vertical hoppers or chutes for receiving articles of one price, and on the other side of the plate are arranged hoppers for receiving articles of There may be as many of the another price, chutes in the machine as desired, and in the present instance, I have shown mechanism on one side of the plate 12 for dispensing only one The upper terminals of the coin article of one price, and on the other side of the move through openings in the bottom of the article-receiving hoppers for forcing one of the articles from a hopper'into a delivery pocket 22, where the same can be conveniently reached by 5 the operator of the: machine. 7

Obviously, the plungers I6, I1, and I8 extend through the front wall of the casing of the machine and are provided with hand grips 23. The followers I9, 2|), and 2| are of a shape best suit- 10 ed for the dispensing of the particular articles being vended, andhence the exact form thereof can be changed to agree with the form of the article and the construction of the article-receiv teeth of the ratchet wheel 36.

mg hopper.

As brought out in the objects of the specification, it is one of the salient features of the in-- vention to provide means for dispensing one article upon the depositing ofcne coin (say, a dime) and for dispensing another article upon the depositing of two coins (say, a dime and a' a ten cent piece, while the chute. I5 constitutes means for receiving a twenty-five cent piece.

The plungers I6, IT, and I8 and the followers I9, 20, and 2| have rigidlyconnected thereto slide blocks 24, and these blocks are mounted for free movement on supporting bars or tracks 25, 26,.and 2I.' These tracks or bars are mounted directly below their plungers I6, I1, and I5, 39 and are'securely bolted to rigid plates 28 carried by'the bearing blocks I0, which form a part of :the;:supporting frame;

All of the slide blocks .24'carry laterally extending pins 29, which are normally received within, guide'slots 30iform'ed in sector-shaped lockplates:3l,which are mounted on the shaft sections 8 and 9 for free rotation. If preferred,

the laterally extending pins 29-canbe provided with anti-friction rollers 32 for facilitating move ment of the pins in thev slots.

Adjacent to each .of the sector-shaped lock plates 3| is a ratchet wheel 33, which is keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to its shaft section 8 or 9, as the case maybe, and each lock plate car- 5O riesa spring-pressed dog 34 for engaging its ratchet wheel.

From the construction so far, it can be seen that when a plunger is pulled forwardly, its slide blOCkl 24' will travelon its guide bar '25, 26, or 2'I,,carrying its pin 29 therewith. Movement of the pin will rotate a lock plate 3| on the shaft.

. As ,the .lock plate .swings downwardly, thev dog 34 engaging the ratchet wheel 33 willturn the shaft section 8 or 9.

Novelmechanismpis provided forpreventing the rotation .of the shaft sections Sand 9 until the required coin or coinsare deposited.

Particular attention is now invited to Figure 3' of the drawings, and it is to be noted "that the shaft section 8 has rigidly keyed cr otherwise secured thereto a collar 35 carrying a ratchet wheel 36, the teeth of which are equidistantly,

spaced. The'shaft section 8 also hasrigidly coupled thereto a sleeve 31, which. extends through the upright plate I2, and this sleeve 7 receives the inner end of the shaft section 9, ands. has formed thereon or rigidly secured. thereto a ratchet wheel 38, Whichis of-the same character as the ratchet wheel,36.

Thus, the shaft section 8 has mounted for movement therewith like ratchet wheels 36 and 38. The shaft section 9 has rigidly secured thereto a collar 39 on which is formed or rigidly secured thereto a ratchet wheel 40. This ratchet wheel 40 is of the same type as the ratchet wheels 36 and 38, and the teeth of all of the ratchet wheels are in longitudinal alinement.

Rockably mounted on opposite sides of the upright plate I2 are ratchet dogs 4| and 42. These ratchet dogs are rockably mounted intermediate their ends on a common pivot pin 43. The upper vterminal of the dog 42 is adapted to engage the q I The upper end of the dog 4| is formed relatively wide and is adapted to engage the teeth of both the ratchet wheels 38 and 49. The ratchet dogs 4| and 42 are of substantially. a crescent shape and are so formed that when the upper ends thereof are in the path of the teeth of the ratchet wheels 36,

38, and 40, their lower ends are out of the path ofsaid teeth.

When the dogs aremoved, by means which Both of the ratchet dogs have their lower ends provided with slots 44 below their pivots, which receive operating pins 45 carried by .coin trip levers46 and 41. These trip levers 46 and 41 are rockably, mounted at their rearends above the pins 45 upon pivot pins 48. Consequently, upon downward movement of the coin trip levers, the ratchet dogs will be swung on their pivots 43, so as to move the upper ends thereof away from the ratchet wheels, and their rear ends in engagement with the ratchet wheels.

The forward terminals of the coin trip levers 46 and 4'I carry trip plates 49 and 50, which are I disposed respectively below the coin chutes I4 and I5. Hence, upon the depositing of a coin of the required value in the coin chute I4, the trip lever 45 will be operated, and upon the depositing of a coin in the chute I5, the trip lever 41 will be actuated.

These trip levers are normally held in a raised position by means of spring-pressed holding dogs 5| and 52. These dogs are rockably mounted on a pivot pin 53 carried by the frame plate I3, and the inner facesof these holding dogs have formed therein, adjacent to their lower ends, notches 54, which are adapted to receive teeth 55 formed on the coin trip levers 46 and 47 forwardly of their pivots 48;

Consequently, when the teeth 55 of the trip levers 46 and 41- ride into the grooves 540i the holding dogs, the said levers will be held against accidentalmovement. When the ratchet dogs 4| and 42 are in engagement with the ratchet wheels, rotation of the shaft sections 8 and 9 is prevented in one direction, and consequently none of the plungers with its follower plate can be actuated, due to the fact that the lock plates 3| are held against movement by the said shaft sections.

Upon the deposit of a coin (say, a dime), the trip lever 46 will be actuated and released from itsholding dog 5|, and the ratchet dog 4| will be moved away from the teeth of the ratchet wheels 38 and 40. Consequentlm the shaft section 9 can be turned, but the shaft section 8 will be held against movement by the engagement of the ratchet dog 42 with the ratchet wheel 36.

When the operator pulls upon the plunger l6,

the plunger will be moved forwardly with its follower, and consequently an article will be dispensed from the article hopper, and as the ratchet wheel 40 rotates, the teeth engaging the lower end of the dog M will move the dog back 10 to its normal position to hold the shaft against further rotation. Consequently, upon the return of the plunger to its normal position, the same is again ready for operation upon the depositing of another ten cent piece.

When it is desired to obtain an article valued at, say, thirty-five cents, a dime is deposited in the chute l4 and a quarter is deposited in the chute l5, and consequently both of the trip levers 4E and 41 are actuated, moving the upper ends of the dogs M and 42 away from all of the ratchet Wheels 36, 38, and 49. Consequently, either one of the plungers I! or !8 can be operated to dispense the article selected, and upon return of the actuated plunger, the dogs will again be returned to their normal operative position.

When a dime and a quarter have been deposited in the machine, the plunger I 6 for the dime article can be operated, and consequently the article valued at a dime will be delivered, but the plungers I! and 88 will then be held against movement by the ratchet dog 4!, and consequently to obtain an article valued at thirty-five cents, it will be necessary to again deposit a dime in the chute M.

All of the plungers are automatically returned to their normal positions as soon as an article has been delivered, and when the operator releases the plunger. Thus, the rear end of each plunger has connected thereto a contractile coil spring 56.

The forward terminals of the coil springs 56 are brought toward the front of the machine and are firmly anchored to a rigid plate of the machine frame. The intermediate portions of the coil springs 56 can be brought over anti-friction rollers 51 carried by the frame of the machine.

To prevent the return of a plunger to its normal position before the plunger has been given its full stroke by an operator to deliver an article, each plunger slide block 24 carries a doubleacting pawl 59. This double-acting pawl 59 is rockably mounted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin 60 carried by its slide block, and the pawl is normally centered on the pivot pin by means of a spring 6|. The supporting bars 25,

26, and 21 for the slide blocks have formed on their side faces rack bars 52, and the supporting bars at the ends of the rack bars are recessed, as at 63. The double-acting pawl is normally disposed in one recess 63 or the other, and conse- 60 quently, when a plunger is operated, the doubleacting pawl will ride out of its recess, say, the rear recess, and will strike the teeth of the rack 62, and the pawl will be swung on its pivot. Consequently, rearward movement of the slide block 65 will be prevented.

As the slide block moves forwardly and the pawl rides into the front recess 63, the same will be again centered by the spring, and as the slide block moves rearwardly, the pawl will be swung in the opposite direction to permit rearward movement of the slide block and to prevent forward movement of the slide block.

Means is provided independent of the mechanism previously described for at all times holding the shaft sections 8 and 9 against rotation in one direction, and thus each shaft section can carry ratchet wheels 64, which are adapted to be engaged by spring-pressed dogs 65 carried by the bearing blocks I0.

It is highly essential to provide means for pre-- venting the simultaneous operation of two or more plungers upon the depositing of the required coins in the coin chutes, and I have provided mechanism for preventing an unscrupulous operator from doing this. The rock plates 3! previously described form a part of this mechanism, as will be seen as the description proceeds.

Rigidly secured to the frame of the machine in front of the bearing blocks I0 is a hollow shaft or tube 66. This hollow shaft 66 is disposed directly in the path of the lock plates 3|, butthe same is slotted at spaced points, as at 61, to permit the passage of the lock plates therethrough.

Slidably mounted within the hollow shaft or tube 66 are cylindrical push bars 68, the terminals of which engage lock balls 10, which are disposed on opposite sides of the slots 61. The lock balls 10 are so spaced that when an operator endeavors to actuate two or more of the plungers simultaneously, the passage of the lock plates past the balls will be prevented, and consequently the lock plates cannot turn.

When one plunger is operated, the lock plate will move between the balls 10 and impart lateral movement to the balls and to the push rod 68, moving the other balls into the other slots and in the path of the other lock plates 3|. Consequently, only the lock plate moved by the operated plunger will have passage between the balls.

While my improved machine can be utilized for dispensing any desired type of goods, the same has been particularly designed for dispensing score pads and decks of cards. Thus, the chute holding articles to be dispensed by the plunger IS can receive score pads, and the hoppers receiving articles controlled by the plungers l1 and I8 can receive decks of cards, which can be of different designs to suit the choice of the operator.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided an exceptionally simple and durable machine which will permit the vending of articles of different prices.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. In a vending machine, independent manually operated members for dispensing articles from magazines, one of said members being provided for dispensing articles of a lesser value than the other members, a two-part shaft having each part independently rotatable, means operatively connecting said one member to one shaft part, means operatively connecting the other of said members to the other shaft part, releasable means normally holding one shaft part against rotation, and releasable means normally holding both of said shaft parts against rotation.

2. In a vending machine for dispensing articles of different values, a magazine for receiving articles having one value and a magazine for receiving articles having another and higher value, independent manually actuated means for dispensing articles from the magazines, independent means normally holding said dispensing means against movement, check-controlled means for releasing one of said holding means, and checkcontrolled means operating in conjunction with the first check-controlled means for releasing the other of said holding means.

3. In a vending machine for dispensing articles of different values, a magazine for receiving articles of one value, a magazine for receiving articles having a higher value, independent manually actuated means for dispensing articles from the magazine, a rotatable shaft operatively connected to one of said manually actuated means, a second shaft operatively connected to the other of said manually actuated means, a trip lever normally holding the last mentioned shaft against rotation, a second trip lever normally holding both of said shafts against rotation, and coinoperated means for operating said trip levers 4. In a vending machine for dispensing articles of different values, a magazine for receiving articles of one value, a second magazine for receiving articles of a higher value, manually actuated dispensing plungers for the magazines, a rotatable shaft for one plunger, a rotatable shaft for the other plunger, a pawl and ratchet mechanism between the plungers and their shafts, a holding ratchet wheel for one shaft, a pair of holding ratchet Wheels for the other shaft, a holding pawl engaging one of the pair of holding ratchet wheels, a second holding'pawl engaging the other ratchet wheel of the pair of ratchet wheels and the first mentioned ratchet wheel, and means for independently releasing said pawls.

5. In a vending machine for dispensing articles of .diiferent values, a magazine for receiving articles of one value, a magazine for receiving articles of a higher value, I manually actuated means for dispensing articles from the magazines, a pair of independently rotatable shaft sections, means operatively connecting the manuallyv actuated means with the shaft sections, whereby upon movement of one manually actuated means one shaft will be rotated and upon actuation of the other manually actuated means the other shaft section will be rotated, a holding ratchet wheel on one shaft section, a pair of holding ratchet wheels on the other shaft section, a pawl normally engaging one of the pair of holding ratchet wheels, a second holding pawl normally engaging the other of the pair of holding ratchet wheels and the first mentioned holding ratchet wheel, independent trip levers for actuating said holding pawls, and means normally holding the trip levers against movement. v

6. In a vending machine for dispensing articles of different values, a magazine for receiving articles of one value, a magazine for receiving articles of another value, a reciprocating plunger for dispensing articles from one magazine, a second reciprocating plunger for dispensing articles from the second magazine, a pair of independently rotatable shaft sections, meansoperatively connecting the first plunger to one shaft section, and means operatively connecting the second plunger to the other shaft section, a holding ratchet wheel rigidly secured to the first shaft section, a pair of holding ratchet wheels secured to the second mentioned shaft section, a doubleended holding pawl rockably mounted intermediate its ends normally engaging one holding ratchet wheel of the pair of ratchet wheels for holding the second shaft against movement in one direction, another double-ended holding pawl rockablymounted intermediate its ends for engaging the other'holding ratchet wheel of the pair of ratchet wheels and the holding ratchet wheel carried by the first shaft section, independent means for releasing the holding pawls from the ratchet wheels for permitting operation of the plungers, means'for returning the holding pawls to their normal positions upon operation of the plungers.

'7, In a vending machine for dispensingarticles of different values, a magazine for receiving articles of one value, a magazine for receiving articles of another value, a reciprocating plunger for dispensing articles from one magazine, a second reciprocating plunger for dispensing articles from the second magazine, a pair of independently rotatable shaft sections, means operatively connecting the first plunger to one shaft section, and ,means operatively connecting the second plunger to the other shaft section, a holding ratchet wheel rigidly secured to the first shaft section, a pair of holding ratchet wheelsjsecured to the second mentioned shaft section, a doubleended holding pawl rockably mounted intermediate its ends normally engaging 'one holding ratchet wheel of the pair of ratchetwheels for holding the second shaft against movement in one direction, another double-ended holding pawl rockably mounted intermediate its ends for en'- gaging the other holding ratchet wheel-of the pair of ratchet wheels and the holding ratchet wheel carried by the first shaft section, independent means for releasing the holding pawls from the ratchet wheels'for permitting operation of the plungers, means for returning the holding pawls to their normal positions upon operation of the plungers, and means for preventing operation of one of the plungers upon actuation of the other of said plungers.

8. In a vending machine, a magazinefor dispensing articles of merchandise, a manually operable plunger having a follower movable through the magazine for vending articles therefrom, a rotatable shaft, a sector-shaped disc rotatably mounted on the shaft, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a spring-pressed pawl carried by the sector-shaped disc engaging said ratchet: wheel,

a pin-and-slot connection between the plunger and disc, means normally holding the shaft against rotation, and check-controlled means for actuating said last mentioned means. I

VICTOR H. KELLEY; 

